Shaykh Saduq says Imams Did Not Want to Debate on the Quran being Created or Uncreated!

دثنا أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عيسى بن عبيد اليقطيني، قال: كتب علي بن محمد بن علي بن موسى الرضا عليهم السلام إلى بعض شيعته ببغداد: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم عصمنا الله وإياك من الفتنة فإن يفعل فقد أعظم بها نعمة وإن لا يفعل فهي الهلكة، نحن نرى أن الجدال في القرآن بدعة، اشترك فيها السائل والمجيب، فيتعاطى السائل ما ليس له، ويتكلف المجيب ما ليس عليه، وليس الخالق إلا الله عز وجل، وما سواه مخلوق، والقرآن كلام الله، لا تجعل له اسما من عندك فتكون من الضالين، جعلنا الله وإياك من الذين يخشون ربهم بالغيب وهم من الساعة مشفقون. He said: “`Alee bin Muhammad bin `Alee bin Moosa Al-RiDaa (عليه السلام) wrote to some of his shee`ahs in Baghdad: ‘In the name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, May Allaah protect us and you from this fitnah, and if He does, then it is a great blessing, and if He does not then it is a disaster. Our view is that the argument (discussion) about the Qur’aan is bid`ah, (both) the questioner and the answerer share (in responsibility). The questioner gets into (something) he should not, and the answerer is constrained into what is not (true). There is no creator except Allaah (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ), and what is the same is the created. The Qur’aan is the speech (kalaam) of Allaah. Do not make a name from yourself, or you will be astray (Daaleen). May Allaah make us and make you from those who fear their lord and those who are apprehensive of the Hour (Day of Judgement)” Source: 1. Al-Sadooq, Al-TawHeed, pg. 224, hadeeth # 4

I disagree with Shaykh Saduq, and I believe he took a similar postion as the Asharii school of theology. Refer to this verse from the Quran.

The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. (Quran 4:171)

The Christain usually refer to this verse and try to prove the superiority of Prophet Isa (as). On top of that Shaykh Saduq says this argument is futile ? If the Christians tell you since Prophet Isa (as) had the word of God spoken through him, he is superior then one can easily refute them and tell them if that's the case then a burning bush is the same status as Jesus. When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" Exodus 3 Also the Jews are in an agreement with us that Allah (swt) transcends time.

God transcends time. He has no beginning and no end http://www.jewfaq.org/g-d.htm

Now, when the Mutazilla said that God spoke to Prophet Musa (as) or via Prophet Isa (as) it doesn't mean God did it directly. Instead a medium was created and used to represent what Allah (swt) wanted to say. In another words since Allah (swt) knows everything he already programed it. On this topic a serious debate took place between the Mutazilla and Imam Ahmad. The Mutazilla who studied this area in detail and they gave a proper defense for Islam. Also, the reason I believe Shaykh Saduq didn't have an answer is because he unlike his student Shaykh Mufid, did not study under the Mutazilla.While Shaykh Mufid and his his two syed students studied under them and Sharif Razi supports the Mutazilla view. In fact, he goes further and attributes the Mutazilla view to Imam Ali (as). When we look at the Mutazilla chain they too connect to Imam Ali (as), and lot of their views go parallel to the views of the Ahlul Bayt (as). Let's see what Imam Ali (as) said about this.

It cannot be said that He has a limit or extremity, or end or termination; nor do things control Him so as to raise Him or lower Him, nor does anything carry Him so as to bend Him or keep Him erect. He is not inside things nor outside them. He conveys news, but not with the tongue or voice. He listens, but not with the holes of the ears or the organs of hearing. He says, but does not utter words. He remembers, but does not memorize. He determines, but not by exercising His mind. He loves and approves without any sentimentality (of heart). He hates and feels angry without any painstaking. When He intends to create someone He says "Be" and there he is, but not through a voice that strikes (the ears) is that call heard. His speech is an act of His creation. His like never existed before this. If had been eternal it would have been the second god. (Nahj Al balagha Sermon 186)